celebrity radar - gossips
MORE REVELATIONS ON COVID 19 INFRACTIONS, WORKING CONDITION INSIDE FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA’S SUBSIDIARY
By NGIJ team
As the rampaging Covid 19 pandemic continue to wreak havoc all over the world, fresh revelations have emerged on the alleged coronavirus safety infractions and life threatening working condition by workers of Sunti Golden Sugar Estates Limited, a subsidiary of Flour Mills Nigeria Plc.
Located on the banks of River Niger, in Mokwa, Niger state, Sunti Golden Sugar Estates Limited features 17, 000 hectares of irrigable farmland and a Sugar mill that process 4,500 metric tons of sugarcane per day.
At full capacity, the estate is expected to produce 1 Million tons of Sugarcane which roughly translates into 100,000 metric tons of sugar yearly.
There has been accusations and counter-accusations between the company and the workers since the news broke in the media last week.
For instance, the workers alleged that the management had decided to lock down the workers inside the farm without paying their salary or an opportunity to inform their families. Those who defied the order to go and inform their family were said to have been sacked.
The company is also accused of providing hand washing facilities only to places that leads to the expatriates offices, homes or where the expatriates frequently visits, while abandoning the Nigerians to their fate.
Before now, the workers and the community, it is alleged, had been having a running battle with the company over series of workers/community rights infractions which have most times, been suppressed by brutal force employed by police and other security men allegedly at the behest of the company.
Joseph Umolu, FMN’s Company Secretary/Legal Adviser in his response last week debunked the workers’ assertion and explained that the company introduced a strategic response plan for COVID-19.
The new allegation by the workers include the facts that the company had been fumigating premises where the expatriates live at the expense of their Nigerian counterparts.
They also alleged that the ATM machine provided inside the premises had been without money for more than two weeks now thereby putting the workers in extreme difficulty. This is aside the fact that the suppliers and customers vehicles had been going in out of the premises without covid 19 precautions.
Meanwhile, Samuel Iboroma, FMN Corporate Communication Manager explained in a mail that “our employees who are on-site at Sunti have all voluntarily decided to stay on-site and continue to work to further the company’s objectives of providing healthy and safe food for Nigerian during these tough times.”
And to ensure their safety and reduce their exposure to the virus, he added,
“several measures have been put in place, including adequate housing, prompt payment of salaries and proper healthcare including two qualified resident doctors.”
On the frosty relationship between the company and the host community, Iboroma maintained that Sugar Golden Sugar Estates has enjoyed very cordial relations with its host communities.
“Like several of our investments across the country, we believe in partnerships and shared values. We understand that the sustainability of our business depends to a great extent on the socio-economic development of the communities from where we operate. To that end, FMN has, over the years, invested heavily in this regard,” he said.
He also sent a letter of appreciation sent by the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar acknowledging the receipt of four thousand cartons of chicken indomine donated to the community by FMN recently.
On the allegation of poor working condition, Iboroma argued that the “assertions all wrong,” insisting that “Sunti Golden Sugar Estate remains the first and only greenfield investment under the National Sugar Master Plan that is currently producing raw sugar.
Like most of our investments in the food value chain, we are creating jobs and empowering our communities through active collaboration.”
But some of the workers who spoke to our correspondent in the estate last week countered Iboroma’s assertion and insisted that no workers actually volunteered to stay as the stay on the farm order was imposed.
“They were asked to leave if they so wish and that no one will be allowed back in, which practically signifies intimidation.
Both staff and casual workers here live practically in fear of sack as people are summarily sacked verbally,” one of them said.
On accommodation, the workers alleged that “it was not until a day or two that they started providing accommodation to workers, putting them as many as 8 in a two bedroom flat or containers in this heat period without any provision of cooling system.”
As regards Covid 19 safety procedures, the workers put his poser: “Why are there no washing points at the road leading to the junior staff quarters and containers? Why are there no washing points at the Factory Estate gate as well as the Portal-Cabin where they have kept many of the villagers who are workers?”
According to them, what obtained presently is that all the points where the workers can have contact with the whites have been barricaded and “when it becomes necessary for a Nigerian to access those points, he must have to wash and sanitize his hands to avoid infecting the foreigners who themselves barely use the washing points.”
Iboroma however insists that all safety measures were designed to ensure that we can continue to maintain a safe and healthy workplace, including protecting against the transmission of Coronavirus and other diseases.
“We perform health screenings regularly and encourage high safety and hygiene standards. All our employees are advised to wash their hands, use alcohol-based sanitizers and maintain social distancing always in line with advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Federal and State Health Agencies including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).”
celebrity radar - gossips
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Records Africa’s Biggest Wealth Surge, Net Worth Hits $11.2bn
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Tops Africa’s Wealth Gains in the 2026 Forbes Rankings as His Fortune Jumps 120% to $11.2 Billion, Rising to 3rd Place; Aliko Dangote Remains No.1
Billionaire Industrialist, Philantropist, and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has emerged as Africa’s biggest wealth gainer in the 2026 Africa’s Richest People ranking published by Forbes, after his net worth rose sharply over the past year.
According to the latest Forbes list, Rabiu’s wealth surged 120 percent to $11.2 billion, representing the largest increase recorded among the continent’s billionaires in the latest ranking. The jump moves Rabiu, who is Nigerian, to third place among Africa’s richest individuals, up from sixth position a year ago.
The rise in Rabiu’s fortune was driven largely by the strong performance of BUA Cement, his flagship publicly listed company, whose shares surged by 135 percent over the past year. The rally significantly outpaced gains in the broader Nigerian Exchange, which has itself recorded strong growth amid improving investor confidence.
Forbes estimates Rabiu’s net worth at $11.2 billion, placing him behind luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert, whose fortune is estimated at $16.1 billion, and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, who retains the top position with an estimated $28.5 billion.
Rabiu’s rise underscores the growing influence of Nigeria’s industrial sector and the expanding footprint of BUA Group, which has built major operations across cement manufacturing, food processing, sugar refining, infrastructure, mining and energy.
The latest Forbes ranking also highlights a broader surge in wealth across Africa’s billionaire class. The continent’s 23 billionaires now hold a combined net worth of $126.7 billion, representing a 21 percent increase from the previous year, as major equity markets rallied and regional currencies stabilised.
Nigeria remains one of the continent’s leading centres of billionaire wealth, accounting for four individuals on the list, including Dangote, Rabiu, telecommunications magnate Mike Adenuga, and energy investor Femi Otedola.
Forbes said the 2026 ranking was calculated using stock prices and exchange rates as of March 1, 2026, with privately held companies valued using comparable industry benchmarks.
Rabiu’s leap in the ranking reflects not only the strong performance of BUA Cement but also the broader momentum of Nigeria’s capital markets and the continued expansion of large scale industrial enterprises across Africa’s largest economy.
Analysts say the development signals growing investor confidence in African manufacturing and infrastructure driven businesses, sectors that are increasingly central to the continent’s economic transformation.
celebrity radar - gossips
COAS Ties Battlefield Success to Constitutional Allegiance and Civil Authority
COAS Ties Battlefield Success to Constitutional Allegiance and Civil Authority
During his operational visit to the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, delivered a stark message, intertwining the elite unit’s combat effectiveness with an unshakeable pledge of allegiance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Constitution.
While directing troops to intensify high-impact operations, the COAS made it clear that their mission is a direct expression of their constitutional oath. He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army’s primary role is to defend the nation against external aggression and provide aid to civil authority, all in strict adherence to the supreme law of the land and under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief.
This emphasis on loyalty served as a powerful backdrop to his operational directives. By linking the “decisive defeat” of terrorists to the Army’s constitutional mandate and loyalty to the President, Lt. Gen. Shaibu sought to galvanise the Special Forces, framing their upcoming engagements not just as military objectives but as a sacred duty to the democratically elected government and the nation’s founding charter. The message was clear: their fight is a fight for the Constitution and the president it empowers.
celebrity radar - gossips
Mercy Johnson Okojie, Purity Okojie Lead Campaign for Girls Tag’s All-in-One Period Care Kit
*Mercy Johnson Okojie, Purity Okojie Lead Campaign for Girls Tag’s All-in-One Period Care Kit
iBlend Services, appointed Regional Agency for Girls Tag alongside its PR and marketing firm, Eddie MPR, has officially launched Girls Tag, described as Nigeria’s first all-in-one period care pack designed for girls aged nine and above.
The initiative seeks to tackle persistent gaps in menstrual health education and access to sanitary products in Nigeria, where many girls experience their first period with little preparation or guidance. According to the promoters, Girls Tag was created to eliminate the fear, confusion, and stigma often associated with puberty, replacing them with confidence, comfort, and dignity.
Beyond hygiene, the brand positions itself as a supportive care system for both girls and parents, offering tools and language to guide families through early puberty conversations.
To strengthen its reach, Girls Tag announced a strategic ambassadorial partnership with Nollywood actress and philanthropist Mercy Johnson Okojie and her daughter, Purity Okojie. The mother-daughter collaboration is intended to reflect authenticity and relatability for Nigerian families navigating similar experiences.
Speaking on the partnership, the leadership of iBlend Services expressed confidence that the ambassadors’ real-life connection would resonate deeply with mothers and daughters nationwide.
Mercy Johnson Okojie, in her remarks, described the initiative as a natural fit, noting that puberty can be an anxious period for both parents and children. She also revealed that her newly authored puberty guide, Youberty, will be included in every Girls Tag kit. The book is designed to help boys and girls aged 10 to 13 better understand the physical and emotional changes that come with growing up.
Each Girls Tag care pack contains premium sanitary pads in various sizes, overnight period pants, panty liners, disposable sanitary bags, a discreet sanitary purse, and a copy of Youberty. The kit is tailored to support first-time and early period experiences while promoting proper hygiene and self-care.
The company disclosed that the product will be available nationwide in Q2 2026 at select retail stores, pharmacies, and malls, with direct delivery options through its website and social media handle, @girlstag.ng.
With its combined focus on education, dignity, and accessibility, Girls Tag aims to reshape menstrual health support for young girls across Nigeria.
-
society6 months agoReligion: Africa’s Oldest Weapon of Enslavement and the Forgotten Truth
-
news3 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
society6 months ago“You Are Never Without Help” – Pastor Gebhardt Berndt Inspires Hope Through Empower Church (Video)
-
Business6 months agoGTCO increases GTBank’s Paid-Up Capital to ₦504 Billion